Data Standards

Open standards for institutional intelligence.

Cortx is built on documented, interoperable data standards. Your knowledge is structured, portable, and governed by specification — not locked into a proprietary format.

The Three Standards

Three documented specifications. One governed knowledge graph.

01 — CTX

Context File Format

What it is

A structured markdown format with YAML front matter, AI guidance blocks, and eleven defined sections. CTX files are the primary unit of knowledge governance in Cortx.

What it governs

Institutional expertise packaged for AI consumption — methodologies, frameworks, policies, reference data. Each CTX file carries metadata, permission rules, and version history.

Key characteristics

Eleven-section structure. Five content types (Skill, Method, Policy, Reference, Package). Optional Section 11 object specification for extraction. Human-readable and machine-consumable. Deployed directly to AI tools via MCP.

02 — KRX

Knowledge Record Exchange

What it is

JSON-only structured knowledge records used by Cognitive Twins and retrieval systems. KRX records are the atomic units of knowledge that power conversational interfaces.

What it governs

Individual knowledge facts, observations, and relationships extracted from CTX files and ingested content. Each KRX record carries provenance metadata, timestamps, and source traceability.

Key characteristics

JSON-only — no binary, no images. Semantic embedding for vector search. Provenance chain tracing every record back to its source CTX file or ingestion event. Designed for high-performance retrieval at scale.

03 — iCML

Intelligent Commercial Markup Language

What it is

A structured data standard for commercial relationship data, co-developed with BSI Group. iCML v4.0 is the current specification.

What it governs

Commercial obligations, controls, clauses, and relationship data extracted from complex documents. iCML objects are carried as payloads within KRX records, connecting commercial intelligence to the broader knowledge infrastructure.

Key characteristics

Co-developed with BSI Group — a national standards body, not a startup. Purpose-built for commercial relationship data. Covers contracts, obligations, regulatory controls, and supplier ecosystems. Audit-grade provenance on every extracted element.

Credibility signal. The BSI Group co-development relationship is a significant differentiator. iCML is a standard developed with a national standards body — not a proprietary format invented in isolation.
Why Standards Matter

Why open standards matter for enterprise AI.

Portability

Your knowledge is structured in documented formats, not locked into proprietary systems. If you ever leave Cortx, your data leaves with you.

Interoperability

CTX files deploy to any MCP-compatible system. KRX records integrate with any vector search infrastructure. iCML connects to any commercial data platform.

Auditability

Every record carries provenance metadata. Every change is versioned. Every source is traceable. Essential for regulated industries.

Longevity

Open, documented formats outlast any single product. Your institutional knowledge investment is protected regardless of what happens to any vendor.

Want to understand the specification?

Talk to us about how CTX, KRX, and iCML work in practice — or request the current specification documents.

Contact us Request the spec